Abstract #2931

Histological Correlation with Diffusion MRI to Monitor Transient and Permanent Cell Permeabilization in the Brain

Faisal Mahmood¹, Rasmus H. Hansen², Birgit Agerholm-Larsen³, Hanne Gissel⁴, Per Ibsen⁵, Julie Gehl¹

¹Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark; ²Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark; ³Glostrup Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark; ⁴Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; ⁵Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark

Purpose: To evaluate diffusion weighted MRI (DW-MRI) as a non-invasive technique to monitor permeabilized zones in the brain. Methods: Using an in vivo rat brain model, electroporation was applied for inducing transient and permanent cell permeabilization in predefined zones. DW-MRI was acquired up till 48 hr after electroporation. Results: Significant changes in ADC and kurtosis were observed in the permeabilized zones, showing temporal differences between transiently and permanently permeabilized zones. These findings were correlated with histology. Conclusions: DW-MRI may potentially be used for response evaluation of membrane permeabilizing treatments, such as radiation therapy of cancer.